Salisbury District Hospital Patients Win Inter Spinal Unit Games

As athletes across the world prepare for London 2012, patients from across Southern England have won the 2012 Inter Spinal Unit Games for Salisbury District Hospital at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury.

The six strong team was pitted against 11 other teams from spinal units across Great Britain and Ireland. Team members have damage to the spinal cord and are either paralysed from the neck (tetraplegic) or the waist (paraplegic) down, depending on how high up the damage has occurred. The competitors and their achievements were:

Neil Andrews (Tetraplegic) won the tetraplegic males table tennis and took part in the swimming and shooting competitions.

William Warin (Tetraplegic) reached the quarter finals of the bowls, took part in the shooting and swimming competitions.

Kellie Donley (Paraplegic)competed in the ladies table tennis and bowls.

Jo Wright (Paraplegic)won the ladies archery, reached the semi finals of the ladies table tennis and won a number of her swimming events.

Pim Palmen (Paraplegic) came second in the paraplegic male table tennis and competed in both the swimming and shooting events.

Simon Thompson (Paraplegic) won the male archery and also competed in swimming and shooting.

Salisbury District Hospital patients and staff celebrate their win at the Inter Spinal Unit Games

Amy Byatt, Team Manager and physiotherapist who supported patients at the Games, said:“The Inter Spinal Unit Games provide a superb opportunity for patients to try new sports, meet new people and take part in competitive sports. “

“Given this year is the Paralympics it was even more exciting to win. Everyone participated with so much enthusiasm and support for each other, not just in the competitions,but during the have-a-go sessions. Other sports such as such as hand cycling, fencing, tennis and wheelchair rugby can all be tried at the Games. You never know, there may be some new Paralympians for the Games in Rio 2016”

Ms Byatt added: “I would like to thank the team for their great enthusiasm and other members of stafffor their support and organisation. They were Matt Gardiner, Jenny Robinson, Martin Whitfield and Amy Young. We would also like to thank Gerald Simonds for providing our team T-shirts and Invacare for our team hoodies, both of which were proudly worn.”

Notes to editors:

The Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre at Salisbury District Hospital provides specialist care for patients paralysed by spinal cord injury, across much of southern England from Cornwall in the west to Sussex in the east.